Unified Omegas (Alpha Elite Series Book 7)

by V T Bonds

  “Evie.”

  She looks at Vander with a cocked eyebrow.

  “It’s okay, my little queen. Reunions can be just as hard as goodbyes.”

  When he gathers her in his arms, she goes willingly.

  I turn to face Kwame, drowning in his chocolate eyes, needing more time with him before we have to part again.

  “Will you tighten the harness?” I ask with a slight purr, not above using every tactic I have to sway him. The lines around his eyes disappear as he studies me.

  “No, Britani. I won’t impede your breathing. It’s too dangerous.”

  I slump against his chest, letting him bear the brunt of my weight.

  He doesn’t budge, easily accepting every ounce of my heft.

  After encompassing me in a cocoon of masculine warmth and hard muscles, he rubs his cheek on the top of my head.

  I hear everyone move toward the door and swallow the lump of panic rising in my throat.

  Kwame’s thick fingers wrap around my arms and turn me away from him.

  Fury flashes through me until he gathers my hair in his deft hands.

  He weaves a cord into the ponytail he creates, pulling a lock at my nape tighter than the rest, then ties the braid in a simple knot at the end. He clips any excess cord off then sticks the rest in his pocket.

  I miss the weight of a lead dangling from the end of my silvery hair but understand why he can’t leave one.

  It’s too dangerous. If something happens, I need to be able to run without an easy handhold.

  When I turn my head to look at him, the tightened lock on my nape pulls enough to ease the tension in my neck.

  Now I have not only his ropes hugging me, but also a vivid reminder of his hands in my hair.

  “Thank you.”

  “Anything for you, Britani.”

  His lips claim mine, promising euphoria as soon as we’re alone.

  Buzzing from his touch, I let him lead me to my sisters by the door.

  Seeck and Evie have already left.

  We can’t go back the way we came. We can’t walk in the same formation as we did before.

  Nova takes a deep breath and meets everyone’s eyes.

  Vander nods at her, giving her a nudge of encouragement. She slips through the door.

  Jumoke kisses Anastasia’s knuckles in a dramatic gesture before leaving the room.

  Shya grabs Anastasia’s hand and slides her fingers free of Dirk’s with a look of longing. They leave the room hand in hand, with their backs straight and their souls lifting each other up.

  Vander claps Dirk and Kwame on the back before swinging the door open and walking the opposite direction of Shya and Anastasia.

  Dirk waits another endless second before following the Omegas.

  “Go, Britani. I’ll be close.”

  I open the door with cold fingers and make my way down the hall, hiding my trembling hands by sticking them in my skirt pockets.

  I don’t get to see the apartment door open again, since he waits until I’m in the stairwell to leave the room, but I sense him following me.

  The stifling sense of claustrophobia presses on my chest, but I pull my braid over my shoulder and focus on the sting in my scalp.

  A terrible sensation wafts over me as I stand at the top of the stairs, staring down at the next level. The large glass panes reveal rows of buildings, crowded on all sides. They block the beautiful sunset, even at thirty flights up.

  I tug my braid and force my feet down the stairs, refusing to lose sight of my goal.

  I will get back to the Sky-Flyer.

  One foot in front of the other, I descend two flights of stairs, then open the door and step into the hallway.

  My gut clenches, but there’s no one milling around, and Kwame should be close by.

  With the dampening effects of the insulation, I fight back the squirmy ball of dread growing in my abdomen.

  Halfway down the hall, it jerks into my chest and demands I turn and run.

  I pivot on my heel to heed the instincts screaming in my head, only to come face to face with a stranger.

  The Beta male shoves me sideways.

  My head cracks against the wall, but I never lose my eyesight.

  With a roaring in my ears, I lash out at him as he comes after me.

  Arms wrap around me from behind and hoist my feet off the floor, capturing me in a bear hug against someone who smells so sweet I almost gag.

  I pull my knees to my chest and kick my heels into my first assailant’s stomach.

  My head spins, but hope rises as the male in front of me stumbles backward.

  Kwame will turn the corner any second and save me. I feel him running, my panic overflowing our bond and begging him to help.

  A jerk backwards lands me on the floor inside of the nearest apartment, my fall so hard my diaphragm seizes.

  Both men enter the room and shut the door, the one I kicked locking it behind him.

  Panic swamps the fuzziness in my head.

  Fury takes over, the side I barely manage to restrain in the best of times barreling over my common sense.

  My feral snarl fills the room as I roll toward the male hovering over me, lunging up at the last second with my nails outstretched.

  Halfway up, I remember the knife at my belt, but sink my sharp nails into his face with every bit of my momentum.

  My left ring finger sinks into his eye socket, the terrible squishy feeling mixing in with his blood as I yank my arms down and score his flesh open.

  Gashes split open to reveal white bone before crimson springs forth.

  A hand lands on my shoulder and, thinking only of punishing the idiots responsible for threatening myself and therefore my family, I snatch the knife from my belt and twirl around.

  I jab the blade into his guts twice, the horrible puncturing sensation embedding itself into my psyche, even as I snarl again in manic glee.

  The shock on his face does nothing to quell my hatred.

  With my pulse roaring in my ears, I sink the point between his ribs and yank it back out.

  The man behind me finally starts screaming in pain, stealing my attention away from the bug-eyed Beta slowly sinking to the floor in front of me.

  When bloody fingers wrap around my forearm, I transfer the knife to my other fist and jab it blindly behind me, sinking it into him wherever I can reach.

  The door flies open, but all I see is blood and terror.

  With a shriek, I lunge toward my next victim.

  He twists out of the way, grabs my wrists, and wraps his fist around my braid.

  I snarl, intent on ripping his flesh with my teeth if I must.

  His purr arrows through my mania and sucks away the fury drowning me.

  I blink up into rich brown eyes and start to shake. The blade clatters to the floor.

  He gathers me close, uncaring of the blood covering me, and hums a deep, soothing song.

  Maybe it’s a lullaby, but an odd blankness falls over me and the notes don’t matter, only that he never stops singing.

  A foreign groan breaks into my haven, and with tears filling my eyes, I search Kwame’s face.

  “What have I done?” My voice crackles as though I’m a dried husk with very little substance left.

  “What you had to do.”

  My lids start to slide down, but my lifemate stops me.

  “Look at me, Britani. You did what you had to do to survive. You protected your family. Nothing else matters.”

  I nod my head but can’t quite think straight.

  “What do we do?”

  He tilts my chin up and brushes his lips against mine.

  “Go to the kitchen and wash in the sink.”

  I nod and turn away, grateful for his direction.

  The gurgling sounds of struggle end as I step across the kitchen’s threshold and the silence of death fills the room.

  I turn on the faucet and stick my hands in the water, not noticing the soap until Kwame stalks into
the room.

  He holds my bloody knife.

  “Wash this.”

  I shake my head, but the unhinged woman inside me perks up at the suggestion.

  He places it on my wet palm and guides me in cleaning it.

  I lean back on him, soaking up his strength and warmth.

  His fury simmers just below the surface, but he shows no outward signs.

  He’s ready to tear dozens of enemies apart for me.

  I twist my neck and kiss his chin.

  He rumbles his pleasure and sends me a scorching look.

  “I’m going to show you just how proud I am of you when we get back to the Sky-Flyer.”

  He helps me dry the blade and slide it into its holster before settling his wet hands on my hips.

  “Then I’m going to invite your fierce side out to play.”

  I shiver at his dark promise, yearning for his deep thrusts and thick knot. Needing reassurance we’re still okay. Wanting to reconnect with him in every way possible.

  He gives my braid a light tug and nips my ear before finding a washcloth and cleaning my face.

  I look him up and down, wishing he’d mount me here and now, but push away my lust as I remember where we are.

  He doesn’t seem to have a single drop of blood on him, while my shirt sleeves and my front have huge splatters of blood across them.

  I jerk my head up, fighting queasiness from the show of violence.

  “I can’t travel like this.”

  ∆∆∆

  I step into the Sky-Flyer with a tight ball of apprehension in my stomach, sucking in a huge breath and letting the familiar scents wash over me.

  The worst of my worry fades away as I sense everyone except Kwame in the cockpit.

  The bond in my chest pulses, alerting me of my lifemate’s nearness.

  He’s doing the last external check of the Sky-Flyer before we leave. Seeck did a thorough inspection when he returned, but we can’t be too careful.

  My quick steps echo off the walls as urgency pulls me toward the cockpit.

  I need to see everyone. I need visual confirmation of their safety.

  My feet move faster until I’m running, my heart in my throat as I remember the sickening sensation of the blade piercing flesh in my grasp.

  I try to stop, but I misjudge the doorway and lose traction. My slippers squeak over the floor as I slide. Grabbing the frame, I swing my momentum sideways and come to a stop standing a foot inside the cockpit.

  Tense male forms stand ready to tear apart any threat, even as they keep their hands away from their weapons since they knew it was me.

  Feminine arms wrap around me as my sisters surround me, their concern etched into their faces.

  “I’m okay.”

  They’re the only words I can manage, over and over, until the lump in my throat leaks out of my eyes and drips off my chin.

  Nova frames my face with her slender fingers and searches my eyes.

  She sucks in a deep breath before a half-sob wrenches from her, but she finishes her exhale on a smooth breath.

  “Yes, you’re okay. We’re okay too.”

  Her haunted look reminds me of her horrible past, but she smiles and gives me another hug before moving to Seeck, who stands next to the pilot’s chair. He meets my eyes and gives me a nod, the fire in his eyes emanating into the web of souls.

  His fury connects to the seething ball of intense hatred flowing from all five Alpha Elites.

  Their drive to annihilate Alpha One sharpens, the threat toward one of their own too abhorrent to allow.

  Anastasia takes my hands in hers, turning me away from the intriguing masculine wrath and flooding my soul with her bottomless comfort. Her pale orange irises shine with the worry of a mother, yet the serene sadness hiding in her soul offers me the gentlest kind of love. She doesn’t speak, merely holds my hands and pours her gratitude and comfort into my heart, until my tears slow.

  Understanding how much she still struggles with physical touch, I try to let go of her so she can return to Jumoke but find myself clinging.

  She smiles, genuine happiness lighting her face, and she pulls me into a hug.

  We tremble, the knowledge of how close I came to capture too frightening.

  As she glides to sit on Jumoke’s lap in one of the middle seats along the right wall, I realize Evie stands in the corner beside Vander, almost as though she’s trying to blend into the background.

  As if someone so eclectic could go unnoticed.

  Her cool expression belies the relief coursing through her. She raises an eyebrow and rests a hand on the knife at her hip.

  “Good job gutting the imbeciles,” she purrs, smirking when Vander shoots a stern look her way.

  “What? I told you this wouldn’t be easy. She kicked ass and should feel proud for surviving.”

  After donning the most ruthless expression I’ve ever seen, she says, “Hell, if it were me, their bodies would have been a distinct message to Alpha One.”

  I swallow down the unease creeping up my throat.

  “So, good job. You’re capable of so much more than you give yourself credit for.”

  When Jumoke opens his mouth like he’s going to make some ridiculous remark, Anastasia puts her palm over his lips and gives him a scathing look.

  Shya wraps her tiny arms around me from behind. I spin in her grasp and lean over her to rest my forehead against hers.

  “I felt you when they attacked. Anastasia had to stop me from running back to you. I was terrified, but you… you were magnificent.”

  I hiccup a little laugh into her golden locks and give her a squeeze.

  “It didn’t feel magnificent,” I mutter into her hair.

  On silent feet, Kwame moves into the doorframe. I raise my head to meet his gaze, sensing him through our bond.

  He scans the room, meeting Vander’s eyes for a prolonged moment before turning toward Dirk.

  Dirk nods, then scoops up Shya and retreats to a seat.

  I face my lifemate, sensing the turmoil in his soul and understanding the heat in his eyes.

  He steps forward and snatches me up, cradling me to his chest as he barrels down the hall. Seconds later, he flings open the door to our den and stalks in, filling the room with a growl as soon as it closes behind us.

  “Mine.”

  He seals his lips to mine, devouring my mouth with such intensity the emotions I tucked away directly after my assault spring forth.

  I need him.

  My tongue tangles with his, lava erupting in my veins as he invades my senses. His desperation emanates through our bond, making me cling and test every bit of him I can reach with my fingers.

  I was so close to being captured.

  The world shifts as he sets me on my feet, but he refuses to retreat from my mouth.

  My tunic rips down the front as he uses both hands to tear it open, too far gone to mess with the tiny buttons on the back.

  I fight to unfasten his shirt, but after about two seconds of fumbling with the ridiculous fabric, I yank it apart.

  Buttons fly across the room, but our purrs drown out the skittering sounds.

  His fingers dig into my ass as he pulls me up against him, and my core melts as his warmth seeps into my flesh.

  I lift onto my tiptoes and lick the mark I left on his neck, its placement so high I catch his earlobe.

  His purr drops an octave, taking my stomach with it.

  When he grinds his cock into my abdomen, I cover his mark with my mouth and suck.

  He lifts me off the ground, so I wrap my legs around him, crossing my ankles behind his back while I claw at his shoulders.

  His delicious, wild pheromones bombard my nostrils, and we both moan as my slick soaks my leggings.

  He steps down into the recessed bed and drops to his knees, pulling me off him by my hair and pushing me flat on my back. I growl, angry at losing my suction over his neck.

  My core clenches as I meet his blown pupils, the f
ierce need coursing through us both ricocheting down my spine.

  He yanks my pants down, shucking my shoes off in the same motion and mashing my knees to my shoulders.

  I gasp and writhe, pinned in place by his ruthless hands as his mouth devours my pussy.

  Each glide of his tongue over my clit ratchets me higher, every nip of his teeth on my folds makes me yearn for the stretching of his knot, yet no matter how hard I try, I can’t make him cover me with his body and fill me with his cock.

  “Mine,” he snarls against my swollen pussy lips.

  An orgasm rips through me, stealing my breath and flooding his mouth with my slick.

  By the time I suck down a full breath, he hovers over me with one hand wrapped around the ropes over my ribs.

  As blissed out as I am, I need more.

  I smile at him, eager for his invasion even though I know it’ll hurt.

  It always hurts.

  I crave the pain.

  I wrap my fingers around his wrist and cling to his shoulder with my other hand.

  “Mine.”

  His purr washes over me as my declaration pierces his heart.

  He thrusts deep in my pussy, hitting the sensitive barrier of my womb.

  I squeal and dig my nails into his flesh, hanging on for dear life as he pummels me over and over again.

  The lewd sounds of slick easing his way only adds to his frenzy as he pushes even deeper into my body.

  An orgasm blasts through me, making my mind shatter and my insides clench down on him.

  As he jabs my cervix yet again, I lose myself in beautiful agony, knowing he’ll be here to protect me through everything.

  His knot expands, stretching my flesh as he pulls back.

  His groan of pleasure rings in my ears as he gives one last brutal snap of his hips, burying his massive cock even deeper than before.

  With his knot locking us together and euphoria blocking out the troubles of the world, I bask in the strength of our union.

  Once he catches his breath, he yanks a blanket over us.

  It isn’t a nest, but it’ll do.

  I have everything I need.

  My lifemate’s love.

  My family’s health.

  Everyone is safe. For now.

  I push the disconcerting thought away.

  We have enough issues to face without sullying this moment with my worry of the future.